Punched Paper Flower Cards

Cherry Blossoms

Materials

1-1/4" 6-petal flower punch
pale pink cardstock (65 lb.)
colored pencil (Prismacolor carmine red or similar)
fine-tip black marker
glue stick or double-sided tape
scissors

1. From the pink cardstock, punch out a flower shape. Fold the punched flower in half matching petal to petal. Continue to fold petal to petal until there is a crease between each petal.

2. Using the colored pencil, color the base of each petal (figure A). Press harder toward the center to make the color darker. Lighten the pressure on the pencil as you color up into each petal, creating a softer tone as you go up toward the edges of the blossom.

3. Cut through one of the creases just to the center of the blossom (figure B).

4. Move one of the petals (from one side of the cut) over on top of the adjacent petal and glue in place (figure C). This will form a five-petal blossom.

5. Color the centers of each blossom with the black marker.

6. Repeat the process as many times as you want. Decorate cards by gluing or taping several blossoms together, or hot glue masses of them to thin tree branches which you have spray-painted white.

Materials

3" round paper punch
1-1/2" round paper punch
1-1/4" 6-petal flower punch
8-1/2" x 11" medium green card stock
8-1/2" x 11" orange card stock
Archival "library green" dye ink pad or similar
colored pencils (Prismacolor white, poppy red)
fine-tip black marker
scissors
glue stick or double-sided tape

1. Apply green ink directly to the medium green card stock using the "direct to paper" method. Rubbing the ink pad randomly all over the surface of the paper gives the card stock a mottled, textured look (figure D). Let the paper dry for a few minutes before the next step.

2. Using the 3-inch round punch, punch out two circles from the textured green paper. These will become leaves.

3. Using the 1-1/2-inch round punch, punch out three circles from the textured green paper. These will become leaves.

4. Fold and crease each leave the same way. Begin by folding the leaf off center so that you have approximately two-thirds on one side of the crease and one-third on the other side of the crease (figure E). Do four creases total so that the paper has an off-center wagon-wheel design when you are finished. There should be eight wedges.

5. Using the white pencil, draw lines on all the creases (figure F). For a more realistic look, press hard in the center and gradually lighten the pressure on the pencil as you draw out toward the edge of the leaf.

6. Using a scissors, cut away just the tops of each of the wedges (figure G).

7. From the leftover green card stock, cut five thin strips of paper measuring approximately 1/4" x 4-1/4". These will be your stems.

8. Starting at the bottom of each piece, pinch the paper together all the way up the length of the strip stopping approximately 1/2-inch from the top (figure H).

9. Fold the flat section at the top of the stem down. This forms the tab to which the backside of the leaf is attached (figure I).

10. Attach one stem to each leaf using glue or double-sided tape.

11. From the orange card stock, punch out two or three flowers using the six-petal punch.

12. Using the poppy red pencil, color the centers and petals of each flower.

13. Using the black marker, color in the center of each flower.

14. Using a scissors, cut between two of the petals just to the center of the flower. Move two of the petals from one side of the cut over to the other side of the cut and glue in place. This will form a four-petal blossom (figure J).

15. Gather together all the stemmed leaves and glue or tape them at the bottom. Try to arrange them so that the leaves are at different heights. You may want to trim some of the stems.

16. Glue or tape the flowers to the leaves in the back of the arrangement so that they appear to be peeking out from under the leaves in the front.

Materials

2" round paper punch
1" round paper punch
8-1/2" x 11" medium green card stock
8-1/2"x 11" pale yellow card stock (65 lb.)
8-1/2"x 11" black card stock
deckle-edge decorative scissors
scissors
paper cutter

1. Using the round punch, punch out six circles from the pale yellow card stock. You will need three circles for each flower.

2. Fold each circle in half and in half again (quarter round). Fold the quarter round in half again making eight pie-shaped wedges (figure K).

3. While the circle is folded in eighths, cut the wedge into a petal shape. Be sure to make the cuts from the wide side toward the point. End the cuts approximately two-thirds of the way down the wedge on both sides.

4. Open up the wedge to reveal an eight-petal flower (figure L). Repeat this process on the other five circles.

5. Glue three completed flower shapes together just in their centers to make one sunflower blossom. Offset each of the three pieces to reveal some of the petals below (figure M).

6. From the black card stock, punch out two circles using the 1-inch punch.

7. Glue a black circle to the front of each three-part flower and set aside (figure N).

8. Using a paper cutter, cut several 2" x 3" pieces of the green paper. These will become the leaves. Fold each piece in half and, using deckle-edged scissors, cut the folded paper into a leaf shape (figure O). You will need at least two leaves for each flower.

9. From the leftover green cardstock, cut five thin strips of paper measuring approximately 1/4" x 4-1/4". These will be your stems. Starting at the bottom of each piece, pinch the paper together all the way up the length of the strip, stopping approximately 1/2-inch from the top.

10. Fold the flat section at the top of the stem down. This forms the tab to which the backside of the flower is attached (figure P).

11. Attach the leaves to the stems by putting glue or double-sided tape on the bottom section of each leaf (figure Q).

12. Wrap the leaf around a stem, pinching together the folded bottom part of the leaf that has the glue on it so that it will
stick to the stem. Repeat this process with the other leaf on the other side of the stem.

13. Fold back and shape the top of each leaf. Repeat this process with the other flower and stem.

14. Glue or tape the two completed flowers with stems and leaves together.

Materials

paper cutter
3" circle punch
1-3/4" heart shape punch
8-1/2" x 11" red card stock
8-1/2" x 11" medium green card stock
Archival "crimson" dye ink pad or similar
Adirondack "library green" dye ink pad or similar
scissors
glue stick or double-sided tape

Steps:

1. Apply crimson ink directly to the red card stock using the "direct to paper" method. Rubbing the ink pad randomly all over the surface of the paper gives the card stock a mottled, textured look.

2. Do the same to the sheet of green card stock using the library green inkpad. Let the paper dry for a few minutes before the next step.

3. From the textured red card stock, punch out four heart shapes. These will become two heliconia blossoms.

5. Flipping one of the thin pieces in the opposite direction from the other thin piece, place one inside the other and glue them together at the bottom, leaving the tops open. They should from a V-shape (figure S).

6. From the textured green card stock, punch out two 3-inch circles. These will become the leaves.

7. Fold each round in half and cut each circle (figure T). Offset the folded leaf to reveal both halves.

8. From the leftover piece, cut a leaf shape.

9. Using a paper cutter, cut two 4-1/4" x 1/2" pieces from the textured green card stock. These will become the stems. Fold the piece in half lengthwise. Cut the folded piece.

10. Glue a stem to one of the blossoms (figure U). Repeat with the other stem and blossom.

11. Glue or tape the stem inside one of the folded leaves (figure V) Repeat with the other set of blossom, stem and leaves.

12. Add the small leaf(s) to one or both of the stems.

13. Glue or tape the two completed sets together at the bottom (figure W). Use the completed flower grouping to decorate greeting cards, place cards, scrapbook pages, etc.